Archroma Color Management service partners with FIT

Archroma has donated the key components of the Archroma Color Center. The Archroma Color Center has a large-scale colour reference that recreates the 4,320 hue colour atlas, featuring an easy-to-use system of detachable fabric swatches as a wall-hung, flip-through display. Students use it to select hues for their design projects. Colours from the physical colour atlas library can be easily found using the cutting edge online colour search tool. A set of colour design tools representing each shade in colour atlas is also present for the students to incorporate into individual class presentations.

“We are giving the students a realistic environment to learn in,” said Brad McClanahan, global head of service businesses at Archroma. “These are the same tools that they will use in industry, assembling colour palettes for seasonal design presentations and production specifications. We want the next generation of industry professionals to have hands-on experience with the next generation of tools.”

Students also use the colour atlas as a guide in developing colour stories for various projects, including a colour pitching assignment. Students have also been asked to use the library to research colours, to further dye sample fabrics and matching trim materials. The students use the on-line colour matching system, visiting retail stores where they spot trends and capture colour information on their phones. Students have been asked to use colour chips from the centre for projects they have in other classes, like product development, or for developing mood boards for vocational club presentations; mentions the press release of Archroma.

“It is necessary that FIT students not only graduate with the theoretical knowledge about how our industry works, but that they are exposed to the most advanced design libraries, tools, software and equipment,” says Sean Cormier, an associate professor at FIT’s textile development and marketing program. “With generous donation of materials from Archroma, our students are actually using and becoming familiar with a modern colour selection system that they will encounter when they walk into the marketplace after graduation.”

The Archroma Color Centre has been designed by students of FIT under the direction of Sean Cormier. Archroma is a global leader in colour and specialty chemicals. (VM)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India